Nepal’s Maoist leader Prachanda assured China that key bilateral deals with Beijing, including the one that could end India’s monopoly in transport to the landlocked country, reached during the previous regime would be honoured even after a new government takes over.

Prachanda

During his talks with Prachanda at the latter’s residence in Kathmandu on Friday, Chinese Ambassador Wu Chuntai committed Beijing’s “full support” to the new government under Prachanda’s leadership.

Wu’s remarks came amid reports that India was behind the move to topple Oli-led government paving the way for Prachanda to become Prime Minister again.

Prachanda, 61, known for his anti-India stance, said the deals reached during Oli’s regime were made by the coalition government that included the Maoists.

In fact, the Nepal-China agreements were the outcome of deals made by the government that he led earlier, according to a statement by Prachanda’s secretariat.

Prachanda said a new government to be formed within the next few days would prioritize the implementation of the new constitution, reconstruction, and development projects.

The government would not only implement the agreements signed with China but also make new ones, he said.

Wu pledged full support of the Chinese government, Chinese Communist Party and Chinese people to the new government.

In March, during Oli’s official visit to China, the two countries signed 10 agreements, including a transit treaty to end the land-locked country’s total dependence on Indian ports to have access to third country for trade. China has also agreed to extend the strategic Tibet rail link to Nepal to boost connectivity.

China’s strong backing to Nepal had come in the backdrop of a chill in relations between Indian and Nepal following the months-long crippling blockade by Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, who are demanding amendments to the newly-enacted Constitution to ensure adequate political representation and reorganization of the federal boundaries.